God Forms Life in Water and the Question of Slaughtering Fish

(Genesis 1:20) "And God said, Let the waters swarm." It is written, "There is none like You among the gods, O LORD, nor are there any deeds like Yours" (Psalms 86:8). In the way of the world, a king of flesh and blood forms a figure on dry land; can he form it in the water? But the Holy One, blessed be He, forms a figure in the water, as it is said, "Let the waters swarm." Jacob, a man of the village of Tzippori, ruled in Tyre that fish require ritual slaughter. Rabbi Chagai heard, and sent word: Come and be flogged. He said to him: Shall a man who spoke words of Torah be flogged? He said to him: And what are these words of Torah? He said: It is written, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and birds" - just as the bird requires slaughter, so the fish require slaughter. He said to him: You did not rule well. He said: And from where will you instruct me? He said: Lie down and I will instruct you. It is written, "Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, that it suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them?" (Numbers 11:22). It does not say "shall be slaughtered" here, but "shall be gathered." He said to him: Strike me hard, for it is good for the teaching.